L.A. protest against Zimmerman verdict is peaceful; 100 protesters break off, begin their own march

A series of demonstrations throughout Southern California decrying the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the killing of Trayvon Martin remained peaceful Saturday.

In Los Angeles, the morning started with a rally of about 500 people in front of the Federal Courthouse Building on Spring Street, organized by the local chapter of Al Sharpton's National Action Network. The event was staged as part of a nationwide day of protest calling for the federal government to investigate possible charges against Zimmerman for civil rights violations relating to the shooting death of the unarmed teenager in Florida.

Following the rally, a group of more than 200 separated from the main group and began marching through downtown Los Angeles. The demonstrators made it to MacArthur Park, encouraging other pedestrians to join them.

The group later split into two, with one headed to Leimert Park, the site of several protests earlier this week; the other returned to the Federal Courthouse Building.

Both groups were escorted by LAPD officers, who blocked intersections for the groups to pass. An LAPD helicopter also hovered overhead.

"It's been very peaceful throughout the entire city," said LAPD spokeswoman Officer Sara Faden. She confirmed that no arrests were made.

The protesters that returned to the courthouse, numbering between 75 and 100, were joined by additional protesters at the courthouse, and the crowd nearly doubled in size. They chanted "Trayvon Martin stood his ground" as passers-by honked horns in support.

"We need to do this because right now because we need to stop stand your ground from moving to other states," said Eme Ikwakor, 28, of Koreatown, who led the group that headed back to the courthouse. Ikwakor said that he wasn't part of any particular group, but had taken the lead when the groups split.

"I felt like they needed a voice, and right now it's important because we're seeing everyone come together around this," Ikwakor said.

The second group headed to Leimert Park, but the crowd had dwindled to about 30 protesters by the time they arrived at the park, eight miles from their starting point. Additional protesters joined the group at the park, but the number actively involved in the protest was unclear.

At one point during the march, California Highway Patrol officers were stationed at entrances to 10 Freeway at Crenshaw Boulevard as a precaution in case protesters attempted to block the freeway, which happened during a protest July 16. No protesters entered the freeway.

Rev. K.W. Tulloss, president of the LA chapter of the National Action Network, who organized the morning rally and prayer vigil, called an end to the event around 11 a.m., two hours after it began. He urged protesters to leave the area and head home, saying there would be no march.

"We've been in partnership with law enforcement in planning this," he said. "We wanted to have an event that was as peaceful as possible and make sure our message was heard."

Protesters at the morning rally were a mix of young and old and varying ages. Several young boys held signs saying "I am Trayvon Martin."

In addition to supporters and members of the National Action Network, the rally drew out other activist groups calling for a wide variety of demands that went beyond the Zimmerman case, including the Koreatown-headquartered Labor Community Strategy Center.

"There are a lot of people out here with different demands," said Ron Collins, 23, who works for the center. "But it all falls under the umbrella of civil rights. Trayvon is the rallying point for those discussions."

Similar protests took place throughout Southern California, with events in Palmdale, San Bernardino, Riverside and Victorville.